Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 4th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive rain and low cloud across Scotland, becoming thundery downpours into the afternoon from the south into the Highlands. For England & Wales, rain and low cloud most persistent in the morning, heavy showery bursts in middle of day tending to clear eastward afternoon. Strong and gusty winds widely.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Rain and thundery downpours, low cloud; gales easing.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph from dawn, powerful gusts for a few hours. Turning south-southeasterly and tending to lessen with time, to 25mph into afternoon, but sudden powerful gusts around rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions early morning, buffeting gusts higher and lower slopes. Staying blustery all day though some improvement. Feeling cool in exposure higher up.
How Wet?
Raining most or all day; thundery bursts
Rain affects much of the region all day, some heavier persistent falls at times. Some heavy downpours forming particularly afternoon onward, drifting northwards, with risk of thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive low cloud
Blanket of fog all day across higher areas, sometimes the cloud below 300-400m Deeside. Breaks to 700m, mainly west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky. Visibility often poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C. Feeling near or below freezing directly in the wind, as cold as -5C in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Varied direction, a lull below 20mph. Then in afternoon increasingly N-NW'ly 30mph, some stronger gusts later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for a few hours at least, but likely worsening conditions affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain
Areas of rain affect the region much of the day, likely setting in heavier for prolonged periods with some thundery downpours mixed in.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, coolest toward the north, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest then westerly, 15 to 30mph, strongest over the Cairngorms in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but affecting comfortable walking at times on some higher slopes. Feeling distinctly chilly.
How Wet?
Showers fading
Showery rain most common toward the north in the morning, tending to fade to be often dry by midday into afternoon. By dusk into night, patchy rain likely develops from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking above tops
Banks of cloud above 700 to 900m in the morning, lowest in northern areas. Lifting to higher slopes above 1100m during morning, breaks forming above most tops into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C afternoon. Feeling as cold as -5C on higher tops if exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Only just above freezing point on highest Cairngorms summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure over the country during midweek brings strong winds, rain and thundery showers. Trending toward westerlies later in the week and into weekend, by then most rain and low cloud in western Scotland, but showery rain elsewhere at times, accompanied by periods of strong to gale force mountain winds at times. Generally fresh temperatures widely, often in mid-single figures over Scottish high tops. Despite falls of rain, beware of ongoing fire management restricting access to hills locally.